Monday, May 16, 2016

I started my tea business in 2013, so at this point I would
expect most of my friends to know that I sell tea. I carry over 50 different
types of tea, and my home is filled with teas I’ve picked up while traveling to
various tea festivals and trade shows.
Therefore, it boggles my mind as to why people go to Teavana at the mall
to buy me gifts! Most of that stuff I
have already, and chances are I paid less for it.

It also boggles my mind that people keep tagging me on
Facebook and/or posting on my wall every time they see some other company selling
a tea infuser shaped like an animal.
Lately I’ve started replying with: “I sell lots of cute tea infusers too
if you are interested!” I know they mean
well, and that they think of me when they see anything tea-related, but at the
same time, I wonder how they would feel if I started posting on their FB wall every time their business
competitors came out with a new product or service! They would probably be (rightly) puzzled and
annoyed!

That said, I do enjoy trying out other companies’ products
so that I know what they’re up to and what the latest trends are, and also
because I am, first and foremost, a tea lover.
And to be fair, it’s actually been a big eye-opener for me to learn how
obsessed people are with novelty tea infusers!
I’ve just stocked up on several new infuser shapes to tap into this market.

All of this brings us to the tin of Oprah Chai I received as
a gift. For a while, Oprah Chai was
actually my drink of choice when I’d go to Starbucks. However, I always felt that it didn’t have
enough flavor or “zing”; that it was just a watered-down, Americanized version
of the spicy Indian chai. Just the fact that the tin bears the redundant "chai tea" in its name is enough to set my teeth on edge!

This morning I was in a Chai mood, so I pulled out the big tin, cut open the wrapper
inside the tin and was met by – SURPRISE! – big chunks of spices along with the
curls of black tea leaf! The label states
that this chai is a “bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom + cloves
blended with loose leaf black tea and rooibos.”
The ingredients list also mentions black pepper, carob pieces, chicory
root, and natural flavors. I’ve never
thought about carob or chicory as tea ingredients and had no idea they were in
here when I drank it at Starbucks. I’ve also ranted in the past about how Starbucks’ regular chai does not
have any noticeable black pepper flavor in it, so I’m pleased that this one
includes it.

The brewing instructions suggest one to two teaspoons per
eight ounces of 195-205 degree water (90-96C) and a 3-4 minute steep time. This contrasted sharply with the telepathic
message I received from the spices in the bowl you see below, and my own
knowledge of proper steeping of teas and spices. I could hear them crying out to be simmered
in a mix of boiling water and milk for five minutes, so that’s what I did.

I opted for 3 heaping teaspoons of the chai, one cup of
water, and one cup of Flax milk (purchased at the soon-to-be-out-of-business Fresh Market). I
brought the liquids to a boil, turned the burner down to low, added the tea,
covered with a lid and simmered for five minutes. Then I strained the light-brown liquor and
added one packet of Splenda (since I’m trying to cut down on sweets because my
A1-C is high).

The top note of cinnamon hit my nostrils first, and the
cinnamon is equally dominant in the flavor.
It and the ginger, pepper and clove combine to create a tingling
sensation on the tongue and in the esophagus.
The carob and rooibos lend a strange and not altogether agreeable
aftertaste. Or maybe that was the
Splenda?

Anyway, this is not my favorite chai blend in the world, but
it will do in a pinch! The next time the
chai craving hits, this will definitely serve the purpose. Next time I’ll try it as the label recommends
and note any differences.

Lastly, I want to acknowledge the huge contribution that
Oprah Winfrey has made in the world. She’s
been a remarkable success story and I can’t help but admire her. Four dollars from the sale of each tin go to
her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation: a good cause!